Choosing care
We know it is a big decision when choosing care in your own home, either for yourself or a loved one. It’s a decision you want to ensure you are happy with and feel certain it will enhance your standard of living and allow you to live comfortably in your own home with safe, compassionate and reliable support.
There’s a variety of things to consider which we’ve mapped out below to help you with your journey:
- Find services that are suitable for your needs and requirements. It’s important to really think about what you will need day-to-day and whether you have any specialist requirements or disabilities that need to be considered. Also think about what level of care you would feel comfortable with, for example, is 24-hour care important to you? Would you like someone living in with you or prefer for someone to visit a few times a week? The more you understand your own needs, the more a care provider is going to be able to deliver support that works best for you.
- Contact your local authority to request a care assessment. If you feel you require care at home, your local authority will be able to carry out an assessment to better understand your support and care requirements. During this process, they will also be able to advise you on how much financial support they can provide. This can come in a variety of forms, such as being arranged through the council directly and paid for by them or arranged by you but funded through the council. You can visit our page on funding to find out more about how to finance your care and what options are available to you, here
- Search for care providers. Do your research of care providers in your local areas and pick up the phone and speak to them to learn more about their offerings. In those conversations, be sure to raise any special requirements or considerations you may have and ask about their experience in dealing with your specific needs, such as mobility issues or learning disabilities. You want to ensure you’re in safe hands with people that understand what life is like for you (or your loved one) every day.
- Select your care agency and work with them to develop a personalised programme that suits your needs. When you have decided on a care agency that you feel will best support your needs, works closely with them to develop a programme that will give you the greatest flexibility and comfort to continue living at home. Get your family members involved too, so they can help to shape the care services to make it as beneficial for you as possible. Also, make sure you are happy with the programme and feel comfortable all of your needs are being met. If new things arise, don’t be afraid to raise these with your carer sso they can update their services. This care must work well for you so be sure to speak up if there’s anything else you feel you need.
Becoming a carer
If you are looking for a new role and want to make a difference to people’s lives every day with the work that you do, then becoming a carer could be an excellent career choice. Firstly, you don’t need any prior experience, and will get fully trained in a variety of new skills.The role is also often fully flexible in working hours, so you can call the shots on what your week looks like.
If this sounds of interest and you don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Here is a step-by-step guide to becoming a carer:
- Do your research about what a job in care looks like. No two days are ever the same and you will spend a lot of time with new people, assisting clients in day-to-day activities and making their lives easier. It’s important that you know what the role will look like, so do your research and speak to other carers to hear first-hand what the job is like from someone who does it. We’re always more than happy to have a chat at UK Care Team, so pick up the phone and give us a call.
- Think about what you want from your job and what you would like your working week to look like. Get really clear on what is important to you in a job. Our carers are all incredibly kind, passionate and willing to go that extra mile to help people in need of their support. If you are a naturally caring people person and want to make a difference through your job role, becoming a carer might the right choice for you. Additionally, do you like the idea of having a different rota each week and flexible working hours? Be sure to consider all elements of how the role would fit into your life.
- Find care agencies that operate with the highest standards of care. If you have decided that becoming a care worker is for you, be sure to find a care agency that has the right accreditations and training programmes to give you the best opportunities in the field. For example, we at UK Care Team are CQC registered and have a rigorous training programme to ensure our carers are well prepared before they go out to client visits. For more information on our training, visit here.
- Apply for roles in care. Now that you’re certain this is the job for you, get applying. Highlight any relevant experience you may have, but don’t worry if care is totally new to you. You can communicate your passion for learning and your desire to help others, and the hirers should be able to see your potential and the wonderful qualities you can bring to the world of care.
